There’s concern in college basketball about the absence of Cinderella stories in this year’s NCAA men’s tournament; however, TV ratings suggest viewers are not affected. The first two rounds reached a record average of 10.1 million viewers, marking a 7% increase from last year’s 9.4 million. ESPN’s women’s tournament coverage also improved, witnessing a 9% viewer increase with over a billion minutes watched. Notably, Nielsen’s new data methodology contributed to higher ratings. Peak viewership occurred during an upset-laden primetime slot, drawing 19.7 million viewers. The women’s first round featured strong performances, with UConn leading in viewership.
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